Scholars at an annual conference of CASS forum discuss issues concerning China’s development and opportunities for the world. Photo: CASS

A forum concerning China’s development and global progress was recently held in Beijing. Scholars and experts from research institutes and high-level think tanks participated in the forum.

Gao Xiang, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), said that over the 70 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese people have created a development miracle. The Belt and Road (B&R) initiative has stimulated various countries’ economic growth, created a great number of jobs, and become increasingly beneficial to the world, which has invigorated global progress.

Sirirury Songsivilai, secretary general of the National Research Council of Thailand, said that China has made remarkable achievements since its founding. Many people have been out of poverty, which can be seen as a miracle in the history of poverty alleviation. Other countries and regions can draw on China’s experience of benefitting its people. China’s progress can invigorate global prosperity.

Patricia Rodríguez Hölkemeyer, ambassador of Costa Rica to China, said that because connectivity is the golden key to global development, China is sharing its development results and experience through the B&R initiative. Anti-protectionism and upholding multilateralism are of crucial meaning to all countries’ progress. While China’s development benefits from opening up, China is also a key force for the building of an open world economy.

Peter Kagwanja, president and chief executive of the Africa Policy Institute of Kenya, said that China’s development influences world progress and vice versa. The B&R cooperation initiated by China has improved participating nations’ trade, investment environment and citizens’ living conditions. The B&R initiative has become a key strategy related to the future of human society, and it will continuously influence global economic development.

Sun Zhuangzhi, director of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies under CASS, said that, as a demonstration zone for the B&R initiative, Eurasia is playing a special role in regional connectivity. With its complicated geopolitical situation, many countries and regional organizations have put forward or promoted initiatives and plans concerning cross-border transportation. We hope that geopolitical competitions can be reduced under the B&R framework and that cooperation in transportation among nations and organizations can be enhanced based on the principles of consultation and cooperation with shared benefits.